Trustees & Committee Members
Anna Hursell
Charity Chairperson
I have lived in Reydon most of my life and class myself as a local (although I am aware that I’m not a true local as I was 18 months old when we moved here).
I began my health career working at Oakland’s house residential care home, Reydon, in 2010. Following the birth of my son, I started my own self-employed care in the community business offering my caring skills in Reydon and Southwold. In 2014 I began to do some work for Sole Bay Care Fund which I found very rewarding and with a little push I decided to complete my nursing training at the University of East Anglia.
Since qualifying I have worked at East Coast Community Health as a Community Nurse which I really enjoyed. In 2023 I was invited to interview for a job in the community team at Sole Bay Health Centre. When I was offered the job, I felt like I had come home and immediately also became a trustee of Sole Bay Care Fund. Following retirement in 2024 I became Chair of Sole Bay Care Fund.
I have been enjoying getting to know my role at the surgery alongside my colleagues and find this puts me in the perfect position to be able to see where the charity can best help our wonderful community.
Jane Samkin
Secretary and Treasurer
Jane lives and works in the Southwold and Reydon area and really enjoys helping out the charity.
She is heavily involved with the community walk and talk group which helps improve the physical and mental health of those taking part.
She is also manager of the Voluntary Help Centre in Southwold so is in prime position to sing post those in need.
In her spare time she teaches fitness classes.
Rigby Whittaker
Practice Manager Sole Bay Health Centre, Reydon & Bungay Medical Practice and Trustee
Rigby Whittaker has worked in and around the NHS for most of his career, initially as a management consultant specialising in healthcare management, before moving to the Regional Health Authority to manage the breast screening programme and then the Postgraduate General Practice Education Programme. This comprised nineteen training schemes in Cambs, Herts, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Beds. During this period the department played a leading role in the development of national improvements to the education and assessment of GP trainees as well as the establishment of academic GP positions at both Cambridge University and UEA and the setting up of the UEA Medical School.
This knowledge of primary care was then put to practical use as Rigby went from Gamekeeper to poacher by becoming Practice Manager of a large GP practice in Cambridge before taking on his current role of Practice Manager at Sole Bay Health Centre. Fostering close links with the local community is something both the Surgery and Sole Bay care Fund recognise as hugely important and mutually beneficial. Rigby soon recognised how exceptional it was, and how fortunate we were, to have a charitable organisation like the Sole Bay Care Fund supporting people locally and plugging potential gaps in care provision, hence his decision to be a Trustee.
Sally Bird
Trustee
I have lived in Southwold/Reydon since 1966, when my parents moved here to take on a business. Since living here I have been involved with the Brownies, Rainbow and the VHC. As my parents became older and less able, I needed more help to care for them. Sadly my parents both passed away, Dad in 2010 and Mum 5 years later in 2015. Sole Bay Care Fund and the Health Centre provided wonderful care and advice. I decided to help with fund raising for SB Fund 'to give something back'. Sadly, my husband who had many complex health issues became very unwell and I needed lots of support. I experienced first hand what Cathy and her team, and Sole Bay Care Fund, was able to provide with the extra care and support I needed, through this very difficult time.
I had been a 'fund raiser’ for SBC Fund for a few years and when my husband passed away in 2018 I 'had my arm twisted' to take on the role of Secretary. I really could see the difference Sole Bay Care Fund was making to our community and I had no hesitation in accepting this role, which I really enjoy. I take every opportunity to promote the work of the fund as it makes a huge difference to our local community and so many have been able to benefit from the extra care and resources they have received.
Rita Woodcraft
Trustee
I have lived in Walberswick all my life and retired after working at Yoxford Primary School for 30 years. I became involved with Solebay Care Fund following the care and kindness shown to my parents by Cathy and her team.
Gillian & John Warren
Trustees
About 5 years ago Cathy asked "any chance you could help SBCF with moving some medical equipment" since then we have moved hospital beds, recliner chairs, and much more. Most of all numerous keysafes have been installed. We are pleased to have been asked to join the committee and look forward to being part of an essential commodity.
Belinda Guise
Trustee
I was brought up in the Sole Bay area and have worked in accounts since leaving education, including working as a supervisor at Lloyd’s Bank in Southwold for many years. I joined the local GP Practice in 2007 and became Treasurer of the charity in 2014. I am honoured to be part of the Sole Bay Care Fund, a charity which provides such invaluable support & care to my local community.
Tasha Healy
Trustee
I qualified from University of East Anglia- Adult Nursing in 2015, following this I then worked across all the emergency departments at James Padget Hospital until 2018.
In 2018 I started my community nursing position for East Coast Community Health Care in Southwold, then in 2022, I completed my District Nursing qualification including becoming a prescribing nurse and was promoted to Nursing Sister.
In 2024 I moved to Sole Bay Health Centre to become Matron in the complex care team, where I also became a trustee of Sole Bay Care Fund.
Cathy Ryan
Founder of the charity - retired
I came to work in Southwold in 2005, initially to work alongside Dr Andrew Eastaugh in developing an educational project. I quickly recognised that the team at Southwold Surgery were different. They had a vision and dedication to their community that I had not seen before and I felt I wanted to be part of this ‘family’. During this time I was also experiencing the role of a ‘carer’, both my parents had been ill, my father had passed away and my mother had advancing dementia. As a carer, I experienced some pretty difficult times and when I really needed help, needed a break, or just someone to support me, I was pretty much left to my own devices to sort it out.
Eventually, a nursing position became available at Southwold Surgery and my new journey began. I restarted my career as ‘hands on nurse’ rather than in the managerial/consultant role that had initially brought me to Southwold. It was great to be back on the front line, face to face with patients and carers and working with a team that would always go that extra mile.
With the support of the Southwold Surgery Team I was then able to start Sole Bay Care Fund. I was determined to be able to provide additional care and resources when they were needed, and where they were needed in a timely and practical way. As a carer it can be a very lonely place and it is vital that we care for the carers as well as those we care for. I have enjoyed all the fund raising challenges that have tested me physically and mentally, but I hope these have also inspired others to just ‘go for it’. The Sole Bay community have embraced the charity and with their help we have truly become a ‘community that cares’, offering extra care when it is most needed, at home or as near to home as possible.